A proposed bill would let police and animal control officers determine whether a dog is dangerous. It would require the court take that determination into account.

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If the court deems a dog dangerous, the owner would lose it and the dog would be kept at a government facility, humane society, or it would be euthanized.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Catherine Nadeau, D-Winslow, said there have been too many instances when dogs attack someone or another animal after being deemed dangerous.

“This is not about a breed of dog, this is about the mentality of some dogs -- and some dogs are dangerous," Nadeau said. "I have a lady in my district right now, in my town, that will not ever walk again on the streets because of how fearful she is. And if we can do anything just to make it a little safer, we need to do that."

Last year in Winslow, a woman was attacked and her dog was killed by two pit bulls that escaped confinement.